Comparison

Osmos vs cell.ul.ar

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Osmos

Navigate a cosmic world as a galactic mote. Absorb smaller organisms to grow while avoiding larger predators. This physics-based survival game features stunning graphics and an ambient soundtrack.

Highlights
  • Physics-based gameplay
  • Absorb smaller organisms to grow
  • Avoid larger predators
  • Stellar graphics
  • Ambient soundtrack
  • 72 levels across 8 worlds
  • Multiplayer mode
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

** Apple Design Award winner and iPad Game of the Year! ** Enter the Darwinian world of a galactic mote. To survive, absorb smaller organisms and grow—but beware of larger predators. Osmos features unique physics-based play, stellar graphics, and a hypnotic ambient soundtrack. Absorb or be absorbed! “The ultimate ambient experience” — Gizmodo “Beyond doubt, a work of genius" — GameAndPlayer.net THE CRUX: you must grow by absorbing smaller motes, but to propel yourself you must eject matter behind you, causing you to shrink. From this delicate balance, Osmos leads the player through floating playgrounds, competitive petri dishes, deep solar systems, and more. “Named as iPad Game of the Year for a reason, Osmos is a fantastic game. A combination of physics, survival and classic eat em up” — WeDoCode “Whether you're a child at heart who likes mucking about with single-cell organisms, or a strategist with a physics degree, this game will appeal to everyone.” — App Store review AWARDS / recognition: * "iPad Game of the Year" and "iPhone App of the Week" — Apple * Apple Design Award winner (iPad version) * #1 Top iPhone Game — IGN * iPad Game of the Year — TUAW * Game of the Year — Create Digital Music * Editor's Choice — Wired, Macworld, IGN, GameTunnel, and more... * Best in Show — IndieCade * Vision Award — Independent Games Festival * Coolest Atmosphere — IGN * Best Soundtrack — IGN * Most Innovative Game — Best App Ever Awards, Pocket Gamer * Many top lists including Kotaku, PAX, TouchArcade, iLounge, APPera, IFC, and more... FEATURES: * 72 levels spanning 8 distinct worlds: Ambient, Antimatter, Solar, Sentient, Repulsor, Impasse, Warped Chaos, and Epicycles. * Multiplayer! (more info below.) * Award-winning electronic soundtrack by Loscil, Gas, High Skies, Biosphere, Julien Neto, and more. * Endless replay value: play random versions of any level in Arcade mode. * Seamlesss multitouch controls: swipe to warp time, tap anywhere to eject mass, pinch to zoom… * Time-warping: slow down the flow of time to outmaneuver agile opponents; speed it up to raise the challenge. * Confront four distinct AI opponents: the Ovarium, the Biophobe, the Nemocyte… and the deadly Ferax. * 13 single-player and 15 multiplayer achievements. * Progress synced via iCloud. MULTIPLAYER * Play against your friends and enemies, locally (via wi-fi), or over the Internet. * 6 distinct Arenas: Ambient, Impasse, Solar, Warped Chaos, Epicycles, and introducing… Antimatter Impasse. * iPad vs. iPhone play supported. “a beautiful, absorbing experience." — IGN 5/5 - Macworld Editor’s Choice - “One of the best games we’ve played so far this year. An utterly serene, yet fiendishly complicated game that deserves a place in every iPad owners collection.” — MacWorld “The best iPad game yet.” — IGN 4/4, Must Have - “We are more than overwhelmed by Osmos for iPad… The game design is thoughtful and intuitive, new level structures are flawless, and the visuals are stunning yet simplistic… every iPad owner should have Osmos on their device. You just won’t find another experience quite like it.” — Slide To Play “What iPad Gaming Should Be All About” — Gizmodo “The first proper breakout hit for the iPad. Osmos feels so natural and enjoyable to play, even when the difficulty ramps up and you find yourself repeatedly careening into a giant gaseous enemy.” — Wired “It’s the best iPad game on the App Store” — MTV Multiplayer 5/5 - “Osmos is an absolute must that will change the way you think of games, and what you expect from them.” — AppAdvice “Beyond doubt, a work of genius... a relaxing, meditative experience about going with the flow... It all adds up to something otherworldly and just . . . incredible.” — GameAndPlayer.net

About

cell.ul.ar

Engage in a survival game where you control a cell in a petri dish. Grow by consuming smaller cells and avoid larger ones to achieve the longest possible survival time. Test your reflexes and strategy to become the biggest cell.

Highlights
  • Osmosis effect gameplay
  • Cell growth mechanics
  • Survival challenge
  • Avoid larger cells
  • Eat smaller cells
Features
Read full description

Cellular is a brand new cell eating game. Experience the osmosis effect first hand by playing the role of a cell on a petri dish. Your goal is simply to survive as long as possible by eating small cells, whilst avoiding bigger ones. How big can you make your cell?

Screenshots

Osmos4 screens
cell.ul.ar4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Osmos at 92% against cell.ul.ar's 40%. Osmos also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). cell.ul.ar's advantage is price (Free vs $3.99) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.4). On device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

cell.ul.ar is free to download; Osmos costs $3.99 up front. cell.ul.ar sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Osmos asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Osmos ships an update every 7 months, cell.ul.ar every 76 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Osmos versus cell.ul.ar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOsmoscell.ul.ar
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (892 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews92.3% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings892 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 7 months — betterEvery 76 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#154 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.411.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHemisphere GamesAmmonite Design Studios Ltd

Customer experience

Osmos

All ratings892 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.2%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews1,212 reviews
Positive92.3%
Neutral3.2%
Negative4.5%

cell.ul.ar

Written reviews10 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Osmos

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashes on certain devices/OS versions
  • Compatibility issues with newer hardware

Requested features

4 requests
  • More levels and content updates
  • Multiplayer mode improvements
  • Customization options (e.g. music, visuals)
  • Difficulty settings or accessibility options

cell.ul.ar

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Osmos

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

cell.ul.ar

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$0.99

Questions

Is Osmos free?
Osmos costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is cell.ul.ar free?
cell.ul.ar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Osmos or cell.ul.ar have ads?
cell.ul.ar shows ads; Osmos does not.
Which is updated more often, Osmos or cell.ul.ar?
Osmos ships an update every 7 months, and cell.ul.ar every 76 months. Most recently, Osmos was updated on October 10, 2026 and cell.ul.ar on October 4, 2026.

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